Fan



-Aug. 9, 1927.

F. R. VORDERMARK ET AL FAN Filed Dec. 7. 1926 INVENTORS.

5F 017/! GEORGE V005 an QEIG-S- Patented Aug. 9, 1927.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FAN.

Application filed December 7, 1926. Serial No. 153,164.

Our invention, in its broad aspect, has reference to improvements in fans of the type adapted to be used in conjunction with some moving object, as for instance, a swing, and which will be actuated through the instrumentality of some moving part of said ob ject to which it is applied. More particularly it is our purpose to provide a fan of the above general character, which is provided with novel operable connections between the fan and some moving part of a swing, or the like, to which it is applied, to the end that the period and extent of a cycle of movement of the fan will be governed largely by the extent and rapidity of movement of the swing,

Other and equally important objects of our-invention may be briefly defined as follows; first, we provide means whereby our fan and its supporting structure may be readily adjusted to properly conform to the dictates of desirable practice; second, we provide a fan which may be used with conventional forms of swings and which may be set up and attached thereto or taken down without the use of special tools, skilled mechanics, or the necessity of in any way modifying the structure of the swing, or other object to which the fan is applied; third, means are provided for adapting our actuating mechanism for the fan to movement in the arcuate path through which a swinging object usually moves, said means being also adapted for actuation through ordinary reciprocative paths of travel of certain types of swings or the like; fourth, the principal parts of our device are formed of sheet metal which lends to the attainment of manufacturing economies, and; fifth, we have provided a simple efficient and desirable fan which is adapted for general household use through elimination of mechanical intricacies.

The structural elements employed to accomplish the above and other results and objects will be hereinafter more fully described indetailand specifically pointed out in the claims appended hereunto and forming a part of this specification, but the scope of our invention may only be determined by the limits defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein is illustrated the preferred embodiment of our invention Figure 1 is a side elevation of our assemy,

Figure 2 thereof, I

Figure 3 is a detail view of our drive connections inside elevation, and

is a front elevation of oneend Figure 4 is an end elevation of our drive connections.

In the drawings wherein like characters of I reference are used throughout the several views to designate-like orsimilar parts v (1) designates a swing suspended by chains from apo-rchceiling or the like This type of swing is .well known and conventional, and other types may be substituted, none of which form a part of our invention. Mounted ad acent to each end of the swingareframes, each formed With depending side bars (4) attached to the porch ings (9), and adjustably connected (as by pins) through openings (8) and (9) is a transverse bar (10) upon which is attached, as by screws (11), a corrugated, sheet metal strip (12) resembling in formation a rackbar, and by the term rack-bar it'will hereinafter be known and described. The rackbar (12) extends from end to end of the bar (10). Attention is again called to the fact that both. frames are alikein formation and above described parts. 7

Our fan (13) is formed with a web (14) of fabric, or other suitable material, carried between frames (15) which are adjustably mounted (as by pins) through spaced openings on a shaft (16). The shaft'(16) is formed of wood or other suitable material, and is mounted between the frames in the manner hereinafter described. In each end of the shaft (16) is driven .a pin (17) upon which is rigidly attached by means of a split pin (or key) (18), a cog (19). The cogs ride on the rack-bars (12) to support the shaft and fan. Also mounted on each pin (17) between the cog and shaft is a sheet metal'housing (20) which has a compartment (21) for receiving the cog and closed by a sliding cover (22), and a bracket member or guard (23) which loosely and parti- .ally extends about the transverse bar (10) to expose the rack bar (12), and at the same time prevent displacement of the housing therefrom. The housing is formed in one piece, except the cover (22). Each cog (19) is adapted to engage one of the rack-bars, as has heretofore been stated, and be held in place thereon by the bracket portion thereof, and each housing is formed with an out-struck portion (26%) forming a sliding bearing for an elongated plate (25). Each plate (25) forms an element of a clamp (26) which includes another plate (27) attached to plate by wing nuts on screws (28). 'lhere are, of course, two clamps, one for each end of the shaft, and these are adapted to engage the chains of the swing as shown in figures 1 and 2 so that movement of the swing will cause the housings to reciprocate on the transverse bars (10) any .arcuate motion being compensated for by sliding of the plates (25) in out-struck portions (24) of the housings. Consequently, the cogs (19) will bemoved over the rack bars (12) and the shaft (16) rotated to move the fan (13) back and forth over the swing. The position of the fan with respect to occupants of the swmg may be adjusted by moving the transverse bar (10) to different positions on the side bars (4); spaced openings (8) and (9) being provided for that purpose, and when such adjustments are made the chains are again re-clamped.

While it is believed that the operation of our device is apparent from the foregoing, particular attention is directed to the fact that it is simple in construction, positive in operation, and may be applied to conventional types of swings without in any way modifying their construction.

While in the foregoing, there has been illustrated and described such combination and arrangement of elements as constitute the preferred embodiment of our invention, it is nevertheless desired to emphasize the fact that interpretation. of the invention should only be conclusive when made in the light of the subjoined claims.

Having described our invention and its objects with such attention to detail as will thoroughly acquaint one skilled in the art with its construction and advantages, we claim 1. A fan comprising a supporting frame, a shaft carrying the fan mounted for recip rocating movement in the frame, and means for translating the reciprocating movementof the shaft into rotating movement thereof to operate said fan.

i 2. A fan comprising spaced supporting frames, a shaft carrying the fan mountec in and between said frames for reciprocating movement, and rack and cog connections between the ends of the shaft and the frames for translating the reciprocating movement of the shaft into rotating movement thereof to operate said fan.

3. A fan comprising an adjustable supporting frame, a shaft carrying the fan adjustably mounted on the frame and adapted to reciprocate with respect thereto, and means for translating the reciprocating movement of the shaft into rotating movement thereof to operate said fan.

4. In a fan device, spaced frames adapted to be attached to a suitable base, a rack bar carried by each frame, a shaft carrying-a fan mounted between the frames, a cog on each end of the shaft engaging the respective rack bars of the frames, a housing for- .each of the respective cogs, means on thehousings for engaging the frames to prevent displacement of the cogs, and said shaft being movable across the rack bars whereby to rotate the shaft to actuate the fan.

5. In a fan device, a shaft carrying the fan, supporting means for the shaft, a corrugated sheet metal member formin a rack bar carried by the supporting 'means, a cog on the shaft engaging the rack bar, a onepiece sheet metal housing for the cog having a bent portion adapted to engage the supporting means to hold the cog on the rack' bar, and the shaft adapted to reciprocate across the rack bar to rotate the shaft whereby to actuate the fan. 7 g

6. The combination with a moving object, a fan mounted adjacent said object, a shaft carrying the fan, and a frame carrying said shaft, said shaft adapted to reciprocate with respect to the frame, means connecting the shaft'with the moving object to reciprocate the same, and means for translating the reciprocating movement of the shaft into rotating movement thereof to operate said fan. v

7. The combination with a moving object, a fan mounted adjacent said object, a shaft carrying the fan, a frame carrying said shaft, cog and rack bar connections between the shaft and frame, and means connecting the shaft with the moving object whereby the shaft is moved with respect to the frame to rotate the shaft and thereby operate the fan. r a

8. The combination with a swing, a fan mounted over the swing, a shaft carrying the fan, a frame carrying the shaft and attached to a suitable base, a rack bar'carried by the frame, a cog carried by the shaft and the fan to oscillate for the purpose defined.

9. The combination with a swing, a fan mounted over the swing, frames spaced to either side of the swing and attached to a suitable base, a rack bar carried by each frame, a shaft carrying the, fan, a cog on each end of the shaft engaging the respective rack bars of the frames, a housing for each cog, means on each housing for engag- 1 ing each frame to hold the cogs on the rack bars, and connections between the housings and swing and slidable in one direction whereby movement of the swing is translated into rotational movement of the shaft to cause the fan to oscillate for the purpose defined.

In testimony whereof, we aifix our signatures hereunto.

FREDRICK R. VORDERMARK. GEORGE VORDERMARK. 

